Pilot Butte Embankment 3 dam
Pilot Butte Embankment 3
Pilot Butte Embankment 3, located in Riverton, Wyoming, is a crucial federal structure managed by the Bureau of Reclamation for irrigation purposes along the Wyoming Canal. Built in 1925, this earth dam stands at a height of 12 feet and spans a length of 3400 feet, with a capacity to store up to 36,900 acre-feet of water for agricultural use. Despite its age, the dam remains under the regulatory oversight of the Bureau of Reclamation, ensuring its proper inspection, enforcement, and operation to mitigate any potential risks.
With a high hazard potential and risk assessment rating of 2, Pilot Butte Embankment 3 plays a vital role in water resource management within Fremont County, Wyoming. Although the condition assessment is currently unavailable, the dam is subject to regular inspections and emergency action plan updates to uphold safety standards. As a key component of the federal infrastructure, this dam highlights the ongoing efforts to balance water supply needs for irrigation while addressing climate-related challenges and ensuring public safety in the region.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the significance of structures like Pilot Butte Embankment 3 sheds light on the intricate network of dams that sustain agricultural activities and water supply in arid regions like Wyoming. With its historical significance, operational intricacies, and regulatory oversight by the Bureau of Reclamation, this earth dam showcases the intersection of water management, infrastructure resilience, and climate adaptation strategies in safeguarding vital water resources for the local community.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Pilot Butte Embankment 3 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wind River Near Kinnear | 994 cfs | → |
| Wind River Near Crowheart | 1,630 cfs | → |
| Bull Lake Creek Near Lenore | 831 cfs | → |
| Sf L Wind Riv Ab Washakie Res | 611 cfs | → |
| Bull Lake Creek Above Bull Lake | 1,020 cfs | → |
| Wind River At Riverton | 1,090 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pilot Butte Embankment 3.
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Pilot Butte Embankment 3 in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Pilot Butte Embankment 3
Where does the data for Pilot Butte Embankment 3 come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the High hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Pilot Butte Embankment 3.